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Prescribed burning, though not yet used to its full potential, is one of the most economical and ecologically sustainable tools available to rangeland managers. Many global ecosystems evolved through regular fire intervals, however, not all fires are alike. Prescribed fires have the ability to sculpt habitats, suppressing the growth of certain plant species and promoting the spread of others. Historically, natural and man-caused fires occurred frequently across fire-dependant systems. Biologists and land managers use fire to manipulate vegetation for the benefit of wildlife and ecological health and restoration. A prescribed burning program is an effective tool for managing wildlife habitat, an invaluable benefit to livestock production systems, and a powerful driver of biodiversity conservation. Just a few of the benefits associated with prescribed burning include:

• Enhanced habitat diversity by increasing plant quality/vigor & increases the quantity of wildlife foods (forbs) by suppressing non-native grasses.
• Decreases flammable fuel loads, lessening the intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildfires.
• Can increase nutrient cycling by fixing nitrogen in the soil from burn debris, thereby having a fertilization effect on the range.
• Can increase moisture filtration into the soil.
• Can control invasive vegetation and undesirable woody encroachment.
• Opens vegetative overstory to allow light penetration to the soil surface for forb and browse production.

Adapted from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: There is an art and a science to using this powerful tool. Fires can be cool or hot. Depending upon weather conditions and management practices before and after the burn, various plants can be selected for or against. Cool fires seldom harm mature trees while hot fires can top-kill trees. A late winter/early spring (before green-up) burning schedule gives priority to ensure the most productive results for wildlife. Even with the best planning, however, windows of opportunity always depend on humidity, wind, and fuel moisture. Landowners/land managers are encouraged to learn how to use prescribed fire by first assisting on a planned controlled burn before attempting one on their own.

If you have any questions, or if you would even like to consider using prescribed burning as a tool on your land particularly in Texas, please feel free to contact me at austin.kelly@aggienetwork.com

For more info on Prescribed Range Burning in Texas from TPWD: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0196.pdf